After more than two weeks of campaigning, the ruling Awami league-nominated candidates, for four constituencies in Moulvibazar, have united against their opponents to secure victory in the December 30 parliamentary election.
Even though the campaign period officially ended Friday morning, the four ruling party candidates—who have political disagreements with each other on many issues—are holding private campaigns in their yards, with party activists, to determine an effective strategy to winning the election. They represent the same party and find it is their duty to hold onto the seats by any means necessary and maintain the party’s dominance in the area.
However, opposition BNP candidates have barely been seen in the field electioneering. BNP candidates have alleged that many of their election campaigns have been obstructed, and foiled, by ruling party men despite the deployment of troops in the field. BNP contenders have done what they could possibly do to reach out to voters in a hostile environment.
BNP, the 20-Party Alliance and Jatiya Oikya Front want to snatch the four Moulvibazar seats from Awami League; while Awami League, the 14-Party Alliance, and Juktofront are fighting tooth and nail to defend their position in Moulvibazar.
Moulvibazar 1
According district election office sources, Moulvibzaar 1 constituency is known as the stronghold of Jamaat-e-Islami. On the other hand, Md Shahab Uddin was elected three times for the constituency—in 1996, 2008, and 2014—as an Awami League candidate. This time around, he is again fully active in the race to secure his seat.
In contrast, former state minister and lawmaker Advocate Ebadur Rahman is the BNP heavyweight in the constituency; he was elected member of the parliament in 1991 and 2001 elections. Since he is suffering from complications related to old age, district BNP Vice-President Nasir Uddin Ahmed Mithu is contesting against Shahab Uddin for that seat. Even though it appears to be a tough race, Awami League supporters believe their candidate has a better chance of winning here.
Moulvibazar 2
Sultan Mohammad Monsur Ahmed—former vice president of Dhaka University Central Student's Union (DUCSU), central Awami League leader and currently a top leader of the Jatiya Oikya Front—was elected a member of the parliament in Moulvibazar 2 constituency in the 1996 election. In this election, he is contesting for the seat using the paddy sheaf symbol. The 20-Party Alliance nominated candidate and lawmaker Advocate Nawab Ali Khan, and the 4-Party Alliance nominated-BNP-leader Advocate Abed Raza are also in the field, extending their support for Sultan Mansur Ahmed.
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh candidate—and also an elected member of the parliament as an independent candidate for the constituency in 2001—MM Shahin and Jatiya Party (Ershad)-nominated candidate Advocate Mahbubul Alam Shamim are contesting for the seat against Monsur Ahmed. Both of them consider themselves part of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance.
Moreover, incumbent lawmaker and Awami League upazila unit president Abdul Motin, who was elected member of the parliament as an independent candidate in 2014, withdrew his candidacy. Majority voters in the constituency believe that it will be extremely difficult to secure victory for “the Boat” by beating heavyweight Sultan Monsur. The final result will soon be known as voters head to polling booths on December 30.
Moulvibazar 3
The (late) Social Welfare Minister of the Awami League government Syed Mohsin Ali was elected member of the parliament for Moulvibazar 3 constituency in 2008 and 2014. After his demise in 2015, his wife Syeda Saira Mohsin was elected member of the parliament, unopposed.
However, district unit Awami League President Nesar Ahmed was nominated by the party in this election, while district unit BNP President and former lawmaker and former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman’s son, M Naser Rahman, will be contesting him for the seat. Voters in the constituency also believe that ”Paddy Sheaf” has a good chance of victory in this constituency.
Moulvibazar 4
Five times, Dr Md Abdus Shahid has been elected for the Moulvibazar 4 constituency using the boat symbol; and he is determined to retain the seat in this election. In the past few days, he has been very busy campaigning with party leaders and activists. Since all root-level activists are working for him, it is believed that “the Boat” will secure a win in the constituency by a large margin.
On the other hand, BNP’s central leader Hazi Mujibur Rahman Mujib is nominated by the party to contest Abdus Shahid. Mujib was a close contender of Shahid in 2001 elections. However, Shahid has a much better chance of winning in this election.
